In the early 1990s, many of our nation’s fish populations were in decline or depleted because of overfishing. In response, Congress amended the MSA in 1996, requiring managers to develop rebuilding plans for all overfished stocks. These plans must ensure that overfished stocks are rebuilt to sustainable levels in as short a time as possible, not to exceed 10 years, with certain exceptions. Because of its rebuilding mandate, the MSA is working to bring back our fisheries—and with them, significant ecological and economic benefits.